Partnerships Have Transformed My Life

“If your business is getting bigger and better you might need a few hands to help you keep on getting bigger and that’s why I’d like to share this blog with you, so you’ll find some interesting ideas of what to take into consideration when building a great team… especially if this is the first time that you’re going to take this step. I hope you’ll find it useful”.

Starting a business to make money online is an exciting adventure but at the time when we need the most support, many entrepreneurs suddenly develop the “Lone Ranger” syndrome. Could this be you?

This isn’t the time to hide out and think you need to do it all yourself which is exactly what I did when I first started out online, but not today. Today, I split my profits three ways with two of my colleagues – What are you mad I can hear you scream? No I just know that with a great team, neither of whom are employed as staff, collaborating with purpose, the growth of my academy has truly been exceptional and continues to be so and that my friend is nearly all down, the finding the right partners.

Right from the outset it is the right time to surround yourself with experts who have skills, talents, contacts and access to other resources to help you launch and grow your business. Let others open doors for you as well as become magnets for what you need next.

So the old saying goes “if I only knew then what I know now”. I say “why wait to have the experience”?

Avoid the “hard knocks” that people insist on having by building a TEAM of people that have demonstrated success in the areas you’re about to venture into. Think about what it would be like to have someone in your life that has been down the same path that you’re about to go down, who is freely sharing with you what’s in store. You’ll be able to plan better, make better informed decisions, as well as save lots of time and money by avoiding the most commonly made mistakes. These are not employees or people working IN your business. These are people who are working ON your business with you and pop in and out as the need arises, people who will help you make money for sure.

What do I call my TEAM?
Make it formal and professional to lend credibility. I like ADVISORY TEAM or ADVISORY BOARD as it relates to business. Others call it a MASTERMIND GROUP, and even a MENTOR GROUP.  I have to be honest and say I call it Ian and Paul

Who should be on it?
Here are a few examples of the “profiles” of those who would provide a well-rounded experience:

1. Someone with experience developing a business – starting a business, operations, experience with acquiring funding, dealt with legalities of having a business, launch, growth, exit strategies, etc.

2. Someone that has actually launched or worked with a company -  that has achieved your desired revenue goals in a similar industry. They have demonstrated success in your market. For example, my academy is in the business of training fledgling Internet Marketers so I sought out the priceless advice of Paul Lynch who is a world class SEO expert  with a large SEO company of his own, in which he employs around 60 full time staff and has getting on for 1000 top end clients.

3. Someone that responsibly represents YOUR desired target market - that can give you feedback and credibility along the way.
4. Someone not related to your business but well-grounded - and “wise” in other areas of life. During stressful periods, this person will help give you perspective, make objective decisions and support your desire to have balance in your life.

5. Others who fill in the gaps of your experience such as marketing, media, promotional, and finance. For instance, I pulled in Ian Jupp, who has a genius talent not only for design but also for coding – a rare mix. And I brought in Ian because what I know about technology can be written on the back of a postage stamp, but I do understand customers, marketing and am very good at process and getting things done. So I surrounded myself with Advisors and partners that can fill in the gaps and give the organisation what I lack in so many areas.

What to say?
Approach these people and request a short meeting where you’d have the opportunity to ask them some relevant questions about your business that they would completely relate to. Can they validate what you’re doing? Did they have similar experiences they could share with you? Is there anyone else they would recommend you speak to? Any special advice they could give you?

How to follow-up?
Request that they allow you to check in with them once a month to share your progress and to seek their guidance. People generally will be honored to support you at such intervals and probably won’t think to ask for anything in return so money shouldn’t be an issue here.

Not only will they get to help the next generation succeed, the relationship itself will start attracting more resources, customers, contracts and funding to your business as you share who’s on your TEAM with others. So, if you are really serious about figuring out how to make money online, building a team is without doubt one of the fundamental keys.

May your success be more than you can hold!

Kevin

http://www.CambridgeBusinessAcademy.com

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